Vet Rec, 1978 Oct 28, 103(18), 399 - 402 Contagious equine metritis: the present situation reviewed and a revised code of practice for its control; Powell DG et al.; This report contains details of the code of practice for the control of contagious equine metritis (CEM) during the 1979 breeding season . It was prepared under the guidance of a scientific committee established by the Horserace Betting Levy Board under the chairmanship of Sir David Evans, FRS . The code is similar to the one introduced for the 1978 breeding season but takes into account the experience gained during the past 12 months . Following discussions with colleagues in Ireland it has been agreed that a similar code of practice will be introduced in the United Kingdom and Ireland so as to facilitate a uniform policy for the control of CEM . A summary of this report will be circulated to thoroughbred mare and stallion owners. Biochem J, 1978 Oct 15, 176(1), 151 - 8 Accelerated breakdown of reticulocyte protein formed under conditions of amino acid depletion; Chandler CS et al.; 1 . Labile protein is formed when rat or rabbit reticulocytes are incubated in medium deficient in individual amino acids, especially histidine, valine or alanine . The fraction of unstable protein is increased to about 35% of the total protein synthesized when the histidinyl-tRNA-charging inhibitor, histidinol, is added to histidine-deficient media . 2 . The molecular weights of the labile proteins measured by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in the presence of urea are less than haemoglobin and probably represent prematurely terminated haemoglobin chains . 3 . Although protein synthesis is always lower under conditions that produce labile protein, inhibition of protein synthesis by fluoride or cycloheximide does not give an effect similar to amino acid depletion . 4 . The synthesis of protein in deficient medium does not alter the degradation rate of pre-existing protein in reticulocytes and is thus unrelated to the stringent response in bacteria . 5 . We propose that amino acid-deficient medium leads to a decreased charging of the appropriate tRNA, a concomitant decrease in protein synthesis and the degradation of nascent peptides. Biochemistry, 1978 Oct 3, 17(20), 4136 - 9 Rapid, single-step purification of restriction endonucleases on cibacron blue F3GA-agarose; Baksi K et al.; After sonication and high-speed centrifugation, crude extracts of B . amyloliquefaciens, P . alcalifaciens, X . holicola, and B . globiggi were adsorbed on the dye Cibacron blue F3GA convalently cross-linked to agarose . The restriction endonucleases BamHI, PalI, XhoI, and BglI together with BglII were isolated by elution of the dye column with linear gradients to 0.5 M NaCl . The enzymes so purified were free of contaminating nucleic acids and other nucleases and were sufficiently concentrated for direct, specific DNA hydrolysis. Gut, 1978 Oct, 19(10), 935 - 9 Portal and systemic bacteraemia and endotoxaemia in liver disease; Triger DR et al.; Using a percutaneous transhepatic technique, blood was obtained from the portal veins of 30 patients with various hepatic disorders and examined for the presence of bacteria and endotoxin . Simultaneous samples also were drawn from hepatic and peripheral veins . In three cases, portal vein cultures grew diphtheroids, which were of doubtful significance, while all hepatic and peripheral cultures were sterile . Endotoxin was detected in seven portal vein samples; in none of these patients were the hepatic or peripheral blood samples positive . In three cases, only peripheral blood samples were positive for endotoxin . It was concluded that portal bacteraemia occurs as infrequently in patients with liver disease as in those without . Portal endotoxaemia was detected in patients with all degrees of liver disease but, even in patients with moderately severe portal hypertension, the liver may remain an effective filter of endotoxin. J Clin Microbiol, 1978 Oct, 8(4), 454 - 8 Role of rotavirus (reo-like) in weanling diarrhea of pigs; Lecce JG et al.; Piglets weaned abruptly and precociously at 3 weeks of age and placed in a crowded nursery commenced diarrhea 3 to 5 days later . Death losses were low (approximately 6%), but weight gain ceased for 2 weeks . Large numbers of rotavirus (reo-like) particles were seen by electron microscopy in diarrhetic fluids . Sections of intestines showed a loss of adsorptive surface in that villi were shortened and fused with adjacent villi . Immunofluorescence revealed rotaviral antigens within damaged enterocytes . Rotavirus-containing gut fluid was harvested from sick, weaned piglets . This fluid, filtered free of bacteria, was used to inoculate per os colostrum-deprived piglets . These infected piglets developed diarrhea and dehydration, and large numbers of rotaviral particles were seen in their diarrhetic fluid . Also, rotaviral antigens were present in aberrant enterocytes, and the intestinal villi were shortened . Since the weaned piglets (3 weeks old) came from sows that were providing their piglet's intestine with passive antibody protection via milk, we concluded that the abrupt removal of the piglet from the gut-bathing antibody combined with the stress of weaning produced a neonate vulnerable to the ubiquitous rotavirus . Similar circumstances may prevail and operate in exacerbating rotaviral diarrhea in neonates of other species of mammals. Vet Rec, 1978 Sep 23, 103(13), 275 - 8 A complement fixation test for antibody to the contagious equine metritis organism; Croxton-Smith P et al.; A complement fixation test (CFT) based on that used for brucellosis (Brinley Morgan and others 1971) has been developed for use on the sera of horses exposed to the contagious equine metritis (CEM) organism . None of 50 single samples from horses thought to be unexposed to the CEM organism was positive to the test, although five showed inconclusive reactions . Samples were examined from 41 mares either proved to be infected or from an infected stud . Of these 21 were positive, 11 were inconclusive and nine were negative . The relationship of the CFT to reactions in the other tests used in this condition is discussed--the serum agglutination test (SAT) and antiglobulin test (AGT) (Benson and others 1978) . Complement fixing antibodies appear to remain for a longer period in the infected animal, and are therefore more likely to be of use in the diagnosis of the chronic carrier state. Ann Sclavo, 1978 Sep-Oct, 20(5), 718 - 23 {Comparison between similar antibiotypes isolated in high infection risk wards and in general medical departments . Preliminary investigation (author's transl)}; Marchiaro G et al.; From the comparison between antibiograms of bacterial species isolated from biological materials of wards with a high infection risk (General Intensive Care Unit and Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit) and wards for internal diseases (General Medicine and Paediatric Wards), the AA . met with a very high frequency of bacterial species with identical sensitivity to antibiotics in the General Intensive Care Unit and Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit . The data reported indicates a high cross-infection risk in the above Wards. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd, 1978 Sep, 173(3), 359 - 63 {Experimental investigations concerning a topical application of sisomicin in the eye (author's transl)}; Mester U et al.; Sisomicin is a new aminoglycoside, which sometimes is active against bacterial isolates resistant to other antibiotics of this group . The compatibility of sisomicin and its penetration into the different tissues of the eye were studied in rabbits . The substance was well tolerated, when applied as drops or injected subconjunctivally . Concentrations of sisomicin which are effective against most bacteria were found in the cornea and in the aqueous humour, but it did not penetrate into the vitreous body. Aust Vet J, 1978 Sep, 54(9), 423 - 5 Serological comparison between Histophilus ovis, Actinobacillus seminis and Brucella ovis; Rahaley RS; The serological relationships between 4 strains of Histophilus ovis, the neotype strain of Actinobacillus seminis and Brucella ovis were examined using a cross-absorption complement-fixation technique . It was found that the 4 strains of H . ovis were serologically homologous and that an incomplete relationship existed between these organisms and A . seminis . Anteriserums prepared against one strain of H . ovis and the strain of A . seminis gave a weak, apparently non-specific cross-reaction with Br . ovis antigen . The practical significance of these results is discussed. Ann Parasitol Hum Comp, 1978 Sep-Oct, 53(5), 467 - 77 {Epidemiology of free-living amoebae in the waters of Strasbourg (France) (author's transl)}; Derr-Harf C et al.; 164 strains of free-living amoebae were isolated from public drinking water supplies, swimming pools and official swimming ponds in Strasbourg; 11 genera and 16 species were identified . Some strains of Acanthamoeba are pathogenic for mice by intracerebral inoculation . Among the two strains of Naegleria found none is pathogenic . The results concerning free-living amoebae are compared with the level of chlorine and bromine and with the presence of bacteria in swimming pools. Mutat Res, 1978 Sep, 51(3), 403 - 10 Effects of LSD on human chromosomes; Muneer RS; A number of positive and negative studies have been reported with regard to the damaging effects of LSD on human chromosomes . The present report describes a comparative study of cytogenetic analyses of 200 metaphases of lymphocytes from each of 6 subjects (3 males, 3 females) at varying concentrations of LSD, along with a positive control with mitomycin C and a negative control with sterile water . Results of a small pilot study on the effects of LSD on growth, macromolecular synthesis, mutation, and recombination in bacteria, lambda phage and mammalian cells are also included . The data failed to show any significant differences between chromosome aberrations and LSD . Significant changes in somatic cells and in chromosomes occurred only at high doses of LSD. Mikrobiologiia, 1978 Sep-Oct, 47(5), 783 - 9 {Functional significance of bivalent iron and manganese oxidation in Leptothrix pseudoochraceae}; Dubinina GA; The effect of oxidation of bivalent compounds of iron and manganese was studied on the growth of filamentous iron bacteria . The stimulating action of these metals could not be attributed to utilization of the energy of their oxidation in the assimilation of carbon dioxide or in lithoheterotrophic processes . The cells yield increased because the metal ions removed the toxic metabolite, hydrogen peroxide, which was formed in the respiratory chain upon oxidation of an organic substrate . This function of bivalent metals in detoxication of hydrogen peroxide accounts for the ecological confinement of iron bacteria to certain environment. Am J Dig Dis, 1978 Sep, 23(9), 821 - 8 Small-intestinal mucosa in pseudoobstruction syndromes; Schuffler MD et al.; The purpose of this investigation was to determine the frequency and severity of small intestinal mucosal damage in pseudoobstruction syndromes . One hundred eighty-nine interpretable biopsies from 12 patients were blindly reviewed by two investigators . The underlying disorders were scleroderma in 7 and idiopathic intestinal pseudoobstruction in 5 . All 12 had small-intestinal dilatation on small-bowel series . Eight of the 12 patients had biopsies characterized by moderate to severe mucosal damage; 3 of these had some biopsies which were flat . The damage did not correlate with: (1) types and numbers of organisms recovered from small intestinal aspirates; (2) duration of illness; (3) degree of dilatation of the proximal small bowel; (4) concentrations of deconjugated bile salts in small intestinal fluid; or (5) amount of fat absorbed in fat-balance studies . We conclude that mucosal damage is common in pseudoobstruction syndromes . The pathogenesis of the damage and its relationship to intraluminal bacteria remain undefined. Br J Nutr, 1978 Sep, 40(2), 393 - 6 Metabolism of dietary fibre components in man assessed by breath hydrogen and methane; Tadesse K et al.; 1 . Breath hydrogen and methane were measured in eight normal individuals after acute and separate administration of different chemical components of dietary fibre . 2 . Hemicellulose, raffinose and lactulose increased H2 production, while cellulose pectin and lignin did not . Methane production was found to be individual and unaffected by any of the substances . Differences in physical properties of the same chemical appear to have no influences on H2 and CH4 production. J Fam Pract, 1978 Sep, 7(3), 445 - 9 Chronic granulomatous disease in the adult; Mark LK; Chronic granulomatous disease is a rare, inherited disease occasionally found in adults . It is characterized by repeated infections of the skin, lymph nodes, and viscera . The underlying cause is a metabolic inability of the leukocyte to destroy certain ingested bacteria and fungi that normally are saprophytes . The diagnois should be suspected in children and adults who present with repeated episodes of infection without an apparent underlying cause . The diagnosis can be established by the nitroblue tetrazolium test . Treatment is nonspecific and directed towards the underlying bacterial or mycotic infection rather than the genetically related deficiency of the leukocyte. J Bacteriol, 1978 Sep, 135(3), 1141 - 5 Selection for nonbuoyant morphological mutants of Caulobacter crescentus; Poindexter JS; Morphological mutants of Caulobacter crescentus were isolated by selecting for cells that did not possess normal, buoyancy-conferring stalks . The most prevalent phenotype enriched by the selection was structurally deficient stalks (designated "Cds"), observable as crumpled or flattened stalks . The second phenotype ("Abs") was observed as spontaneous shedding of normal-appearing stalks . Third, one mutant ("Ecs") was isolated that sheds not only stalks, but also miniature stalked and nonstalked cells. J Bacteriol, 1978 Sep, 135(3), 1130 - 6 Membrane phospholipid composition of Caulobacter crescentus; Contreras I et al.; The phospholipid composition of Caulobacter crescentus CB13 and CB15 was determined . The acidic phospholipids, phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin, comprise approximately 87% of the total phospholipids . Neither phosphatidylethanolamine nor its precursor phosphatidylserine was detected . The outer and inner membranes of C . crescentus CB13 were separated, and phospholipid analysis revealed heterogeneity with respect to the relative amounts of phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin in the two membranes . As has been shown to be the case for other bacterial membranes, the concentration of cardiolipin increases and phosphatidylglycerol decreases as cell cultures enter stationary phase. J Bacteriol, 1978 Sep, 135(3), 1062 - 9 Caulobacter flagellar organelle: synthesis, compartmentation, and assembly; Lagenaur C et al.; In Caulobacter crescentus biogenesis of the flagellar organelle occurs during one stage of its complex life cycle . Thus in synchronous cultures it is possible to assay the sequential synthesis and assembly of the flagellum and hook in vivo with a combination of biochemical and radioimmunological techniques . The periodicity of synthesis and the subcellular compartmentation of the basal hook and filament subunits were determined by radioimmune assay procedures . Unassembled 27,000-dalton (27K) flagellin was preferentially located in isolated membrane fractions, whereas the 25K flagellin was distributed between the membrane and cytoplasm . The synthesis of hook began before that of flagellin, although appreciable overlap of the two processes occurred . Initiation of filament assembly coincided with the association of newly synthesized hook and flagellin subunits . Caulobacter flagella are unusual in that they contain two different flagellin subunits . Data are presented which suggest that the ratio of the two flagellin subunits changes along the length of the filament . Only the newly synthesized 25K flagellin subunit is detected in filaments assembled during the swarmer cell stage . By monitoring the appearance of flagellar hooks in the culture medium, the time at which flagella are released was determined. Am J Pathol, 1978 Sep, 92(3), 755 - 69 Turnover of kidney beta-glucuronidase in normal and Chédiak-Higashi (beige) mice; Swank RT et al.; Kidney beta-glucuronidase turnover has been examined by specific antibody methods in normal C57BL/6J mice and in coisogenic C57BL/6J beige mice, an animal model for the human Chediak-Higashi syndrome . No effect of the beige gene on the rate of glucuronidase synthesis was detected in either untreated or testosterone-treated mice . Moreover, glucuronidase of beige mice decayed relatively slowly in pulse labeling and in hormone withdrawal experiments . Direct measurements of secretion confirmed that both in the presence of testosterone and following its withdrawal, there was a threefold lower rate of secretion of kidney glucuronidase in beige mice . Following hormone withdrawal, the loss of glucuronidase activity in beige mice was biphasic, with the second more slowly turning over component apparently lost by a nonsecretory mechanism . This persistent nonsecreted glucuronidase activity was specifically associated with giant lysosomes in kidney proximal tubule cells near the corticomedullary border . Thus, there are two major populations of lysosomes in proximal tubule cells of beige mice . Cells of the outer cortex contain mainly morphologically normal lysosomes, and their lysosomal enzymes are secreted at near normal rates . However, lysosomal enzymes derived from the giant lysosomes of cells near the corticomedullary border are secreted either very slowly or not at all . The altered secretion of lysosomal enzymes from specific kidney cells of beige mice may serve as a model system for study of defective fusion of lysosomes with phagocytosed bacteria in cells of Chediak-Higashi patients. Am J Clin Nutr, 1978 Sep, 31(9), 1587 - 93 Nitrogen metabolism in the gut; Wrong O; All three of the major human nitrogenous waste products--urea,, creatinine, and uric acid--are significantly degraded by intestinal bacteria . The breakdown products of creatinine and uric acid are not fully known, but metabolites of these complex heterocyclic nitrogen compounds may well turn out to play a role in uremic toxicity . Urea degradation is almost certainly by way of ammonia, but the exact site of urea hydrolysis in the alimentary tract is not known, and it is uncertain whether urea is the major source of intestinal ammonia . Ammonia is absorbed from the colon predominantly in unionized form, and the bicarbonate ion secreted by the colonic mucosa plays an important role in facilitating this absorption. Rev Cubana Med Trop, 1978 Sep-Dec, 30(3), 161 - 6 {Primary amebic meningoencephalitis . Report of a suspicious case and review of the medical literature}; Garcia Tigera J et al.; The case of a 24-year old patient who, in July 1976, submerged into a canal of Guanimar river and, five days later, had a febrile meningoencephalitic clinical picture, is presented; he was in a very severe condition and recovered without sequelae with a treatment based on amphotericin B . The negative cultures for bacteria, fungi and viruses, the characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid and the observation of free-life amebae in the water of the wash of rhinopharynx and pharingeal cavity allowed to establish, with great accuracy, the presuntive diagnosis of primary amebic meningoencephalitis. Res Vet Sci, 1978 Sep, 25(2), 173 - 7 An immunisation model for the control of infectious enteritis; Husband AJ; An intestinal immunisation procedure involving systemic priming and oral boosting was investigated in lambs with a view to providing vaccination control of enteritis in young animals . The procedure stimulated the appearance of antibody-containing cells of IgA specificity in the intestine and lambs immunised in this way with a bacterial vaccine were protected against subsequent challenge with live enteropathogenic bacteria . This immunisation regime therefore provides a useful method for the stimulation of IgA immunity in the intestine of ruminants and it is anticipated that it will have general application to a variety of enteric diseases. J Environ Pathol Toxicol, 1978 Sep-Oct, 2(1), 149 - 67 Review of in vitro systems with potential for use in teratogenicity screening; Wilson JG; In this review an in vitro system is considered to be any developing tissue, organ, or organism other than mammalian embryo in situ . Before the various test systems that have been used or proposed are discussed, attention is given to the questions of whether all chemicals in the environment are in need of biological testing and what criteria should be used in making this judgment . Consideration is also given to selection of the appropriate level of rigorousness to be used in tests of different categories of chemicals . To aid in this, the characteristics of an optimal test are assembled and used as a standard for estimating the potential usefulness of the various in vitro systems . The systems discussed include bacteria and other unicellular organisms, somatic cells in culture, tissue culture, organ culture, intact invertebrate embryos (e.g., drosophila, sea urchins, sand dollars), intact lower vertebrate embryos (e.g., frogs, other amphibians, fish), cultured mammalian embryos, and incubating chick embryos . None of these are regarded as sufficiently validated in terms of comparisons with known teratogenic responses in pregnant mammals to warrant adoption as a reliable test at this time . Intact embryos of drosophila, sea urchins, amphibians, and fish are regarded as promising, but much research is needed to ascertain their predictive validity for mammals . The incubating chick embryo, however, possesses more of the essential features of the optimal system than any of the others . A tentative proposal using the chick is outlined, but it will require considerable further comparison with currently used procedures in pregnant mammals before its reliability can be fully evaluated. Dtsch Zahnarztl Z, 1978 Sep, 33(9), 629 - 33 {Intra and extracellular acid spectrum of plaque incubated in vitro}; Distler W et al.; 1 . The different in the substance spectrum of incubated plaque produced by the change from glucose to sucrose is insignificant . 2 . A variation in the buffer capacity, such as is typical for cariogenic plaque in vivo, markedly influences the proportional composition of the acids formed . 3 . The product spectrum of a mixed bacteria population such as in plaque is time dependent . The reason for this dependence is probably the interaction of the individual types of bacteria with each other . 4 . The spectrum of acid composition extracted from the plaque is different from that in the vicinity of the plaque. Ann Intern Med, 1978 Sep, 89(3), 389 - 97 The current status of laetrile; Dorr RT et al.; Amygdalin at various concentrations and with numerous impurities is the most common cyanogenic glycoside found in laetrile samples . Its chemical properties were first described in 1837, and pharmacologic studies have shown that ultimately it is broken down to HCN, benzaldehyde, and glucose by enzymes found in gut bacteria but not intracellularly in humans . Fatal and nonfatal toxicities to orally ingested cyanogenic glycosides have been reported worldwide . We review here the signs and symptoms of acute cyanide toxicity and its treatment . Substantial in-vitro and in-vivo testing in animal tumor systems has shown that amygdalin is entirely devoid of significant anticancer activity . Control animals often have lived longer than those treated with various doses and schedules of amygdalin . Acceptable clinical studies in humans are lacking, but such ventures would appear to be contraindicated from animal studies and observed human toxicities . We also discuss current legal-judicial aspects of laetrile therapy for cancer. Scand J Dent Res, 1978 Sep, 86(5), 374 - 85 Electron microscopy of exfoliated cells of human oral mucosa; Collan Y et al.; Exfoliated cells of the human buccal mucosa were studied in 35 adults . All cells showed signs of necrosis: condensation of nuclear chromatin, dilated mitochondria with flocculent densities, dilation of endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes detached from the endoplasmic membranes, aggregates of degenerated organelles in the cytoplasm, and discontinuity of nuclear and plasma membranes . Desmosomes were preserved in cells exfoliated in groups, but in single cells the former sites of desmosomes were only occasionally identified . The cells contained filaments about 150 A in diameter, often arranged in bundles around aggregates of degenerated organelles . Ruthenium red stained the glycocalyx of the epithelial cells and the capsule of accompanying bacteria . The glycocalyx did not appear to contribute to binding the bacteria to cell surfaces . The findings are discussed in the light of recent studies on cell necrosis, and culminate in a hypothesis to explain exfoliation of cells of the oral epithelium. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1978 Sep, 75(9), 4125 - 9 Antagonists of DNA gyrase inhibit repair and recombination of UV-irradiated phage lambda; Hays JB et al.; Intracellular lambda DNA (from EDTA-sensitive tandem duplication phages) was extracted from infected rec+ bacteria and scored for infectivity and recombination (loss of duplication) by transfection of recA recB spheroplasts and subsequent assay for EDTA resistance . When phage development was blocked by repressor or by antibiotics (chloramphenicol and/or rifampin), the apparent recombination frequency was about 0.1% above the background value for recA infections . Prior irradiation of the phage greatly stimulated recombination; the frequency was 20% when UV fluence was 140 J/m2 . Repair (recovery of infectivity) and recombination of irradiated phage DNA proceeded readily in the presence of chloramphenicol and rifampin . Inhibitors of DNA gyrase (coumermycin and oxolinic acid) blocked repair and reduced recombination . UV-stimulated recombination was very low in recA but nearly normal in recB cells: repair was reduced in both mutant strains . The recombination remained high as phage/cell ratios less than unity. N Z Med J, 1978 Aug 9, 88(617), 97 - 101 Which disinfectant and where? Faoagali JL, Linton IM. The introduction of a disinfection policy for a hospital and its supervision and control, are discussed . The need for total staff co-operation is highlighted with laboratory monitoring, an essential component to determine the success of the policy and to detect breakdowns in techniques. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1978 Aug 8, 503(2), 251 - 62 Derivative absorption spectroscopy from 5--300 K of Prosthecochloris aestuarii; Whitten WB et al.; Absorption spectra of the bacteriochlorophyll a-protein from Prosthecochloris aesturaii were measured at temperatures from 2.9 to 300 K . Fourth and eight derivatives of the spectra were calculated from the digital data . From an analysis of 34 scans taken from 750 to 850 nm at 5 K, and 130 scans taken from 822 to 838 nm, we find evidence for nine peaks, six of which are probably 0--0 excitonic and three probably higher vibronic features . The major peaks are resolved in the derivative spectra to 300 K, and all shift with temperature by less than 1 nm compared to their 5 K positions, except for the 825 nm peak which shifts about 2 nm . The most prominent fourth derivative peak at 300 K shifts from 812.9 nm in the standard buffer solution to 814.1 nm in the cryogenic solution in which our low temperature measurements were made . We conclude that the conformation of the protein at 5 K is essentially the same as at 300 K. Immunology, 1978 Aug, 35(2), 213 - 21 Studies on the immune protection to murine experimental brucellosis conferred by Brucella fractions . I . Positive role of immune serum; Bascoul S et al.; Mouse inoculation with three different phenol-insoluble fractions extracted from Brucella melitensis (fractions 'PI', '4A' and '5') induces an acceleration of the blood clearance of i.v . inoculated live Brucella and a diminution of the rate of multiplication of the injected bacteria in the spleen . Preincubation of the challenge inoculum in immune serum or i.p . injections of immune serum confer a good specific protection to non-immunized hosts . The results observed with fractionated sera suggest that, not only antibodies, but also other serum constituents may participate in the protective activity of immune sera . This discussed in terms of the respective importance of humoral and cellular immunity to Brucella and of the choice of the best preparations for human or animal vaccination. Br J Dermatol, 1978 Aug, 99(2), 211 - 4 Malignant pyoderma; Anderson JA; A patient is described who developed multiple areas of inflammatory pyoderma on the face, leading to extensive ulceration . Repeated investigations failed to demonstrate any specific bacteria or fungus responsible and trials of treatment with various antibiotics proved unsuccessful . Histology revealed a granulomatous abscess-like lesion, and the condition resembled what has been described as malignant pyoderma . The patient was successfully treated with oral dapsone and intralesional steroids. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1978 Aug 1, 173(3), 301 - 3 Features of cystic calculi in cats in a hospital population; Bohonowych RO et al.; The case records of 131 cats undergoing surgery for cystic calculi at The Animal Medical Center during the period of June 1969 to January 1975 were reviewed . Data for 16 intact females, 63 spayed females, 14 intact males, and 38 castrated males were analyzed . The mean age of first occurrence was 4.9 years . Meaningful conclusions regarding breed predisposition could not be made . Phosphate calculi were the predominant (124/128 analyzed) type . Swab specimens were taken from the bladder wall at time of surgery in 86 cases; only 28 (32.8%) were positive for bacteria. Surgery, 1978 Aug, 84(2), 194 - 200 Whole blood vs . packed red cells for resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock: an examination of host defense parameters in dogs; Beiting CV et al.; Whole blood vs . packed red cells for resuscitation of acute blood loss in dogs was compared with respect to a number of variables of host defense . Dogs subjected to a controlled blood loss equal to 8% of their body weight exhibited significant depressions in serum protein, C3, IgG, and total opsonic activity when resuscitated with packed red cells in saline . No such depression in serum components or activity was observed in identically bled dogs resuscitated with whole blood . There were no differences in the rate of clearance of intravenously injected bacteria indicating an intact reticuloendothelial system (RES) function in both groups . These experiments suggest that whole blood may be preferable to packed cells for resuscitation of acute hemorrhagic shock when the effect on resistance of infection is considered. Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1978 Aug, 147(2), 215 - 8 Reassessment of the surgical scrub; Galle PC et al.; This study was designed to reassess the efficacy and necessity of the preoperative ten minute, two brush scrub method currently required for all personnel at this hospital . Three scrub methods-the tem minute, two brush technique with an iodophor, Betadine surgical scrub; a five minute, no brush iodophor scrub with a new iodophor iodine scrub, and a three minute, no brush scrub with plain soap and Septisol Foam-were compared . Fingertip culture results obtained prescrub, immediately postscrub and one hour after wearing gloves revealed no significant differences in the three methods . The findings suggest that, one hour after scrubbing, a shorter, no brush scrub procedure with any of the antiseptics used in this study is as effective in reducing bacterial growth of the hands as the standard longer two brush method . By deletion of the use of scrub brushes and the improved efficiency from the reduced scrub time alone with the additional less likelihood of skin trauma and dermatitis, substantial financial savings may be realized. Obstet Gynecol, 1978 Aug, 52(2), 165 - 8 Unilateral ovarian abscess associated with the intrauterine device; Niebyl JR et al.; Four cases of primary ovarian abscess associated with intrauterine contraceptive devices are presented . It is proposed that both their unilaterality and the fact that they were primary in the ovary rather than tuboovarian are due to the fact that bacteria from the intrauterine device are shed continuously through the fallopian tubes, resulting in the inoculation of the corpus luteum, a unilateral structure . Removal of the ovarian abscess without additional surgical therapy is sufficient for a patient with this type of pelvic infection. J Bacteriol, 1978 Aug, 135(2), 647 - 55 Rate of major protein synthesis during the cell cycle of Caulobacter crescentus; Iba H et al.; The rate of major protein synthesis was examined during the synchronous differentiation of Caulobacter crescentus . Total cell proteins were pulse-labeled with {35S}methionine at different times in the swarmer cell cycle and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The rates of synthesis of total cell proteins and of about one-half of the individual major proteins examined increased through G1 and S periods but remained nearly constant during G2 period . The rates of synthesis of the other half of the individual major proteins either increased continuously throughout the swarmer cell cycle or doubled during S period . One stage-specific protein was also detected in late S period . For most of the major proteins examined, the rate of synthesis in the swarmer cell was less than that in the stalked cell . It seemed that, before the onset of G2 period, the Caulobacter cell was already able to synthesize each major protein at the additive rate of the two progeny cells . Compared to the stability of cellular proteins, the functional degradation rate of mRNA coding for individual major proteins was rapid, with half-lives of 0.4 to 5.8 min . It thus seems that the rate of major protein synthesis mainly reflects the transcriptional control of gene expression. Blood, 1978 Aug, 52(2), 301 - 10 Effects of temperature on granulocyte preservation; McCullough J et al.; With the increasing use of granulocyte transfusion it is becoming important to determine if granulocytes can be preserved for a few days . If so, the optimum storage conditions must be identified . We studied the function in vitro of granulocytes collected as they would be for transfusion by continuous-flow centrifuge leukapheresis (CFCL) and filtration leukapheresis (FL) . Granulocytes collected by CFCL maintained normal ability to phagocytose and kill bacteria after 48 hr and normal chemotaxis after 24 hr of storage at 20 degrees--24 degrees C . Neither 1 degrees--6 degrees C nor 37 degrees C were as effective in preserving chemotactic response . Agitation of the granulocyte suspension during storage caused reduced bacterial killing and chemotaxis . Granulocytes collected by FL functioned very poorly after 24 hr storage at all temperatures studied . These studies suggest that it may be possible to store CFCL granulocytes at 20 degrees--24 degrees C for 24 hr . FL granulocytes should not be stored at all. Clin Exp Immunol, 1978 Aug, 33(2), 332 - 9 Human peripheral lymphocytes bearing surface immunoglobulin do not have readily detectable Fc receptors; Alexander EL et al.; The question of whether human peripheral B lymphocytes have Fc receptors was examined directly by double-label immunofluorescent techniques utilizing assays for detection of Fc receptors, surface immunoglobulin, and complement receptors . Fc receptors were detected by indirect immunofluorescence after incubation with soluble antigen-antibody complexes . Complement receptors were detected by the binding of fluoresceinated bacteria coated with complement . It was demonstrated that most surface immunoglobulin-bearing, complement-receptor positive lymphocytes did not bind soluble antigen-antibody complexes . Conversely, most cells which readily bound soluble complexes did not have surface immunoglobulin or complement receptors . Therefore, most peripheral B lymphocytes do not have easily detectable Fc receptors and most Fc receptor-bearing lymphocytes do not have B cell markers. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd, 1978 Aug, 173(2), 171 - 81 {On keratoplasty indicated in progressive infection of the cornea (author's transl)}; Thiel HJ; A report is given about 9 patients with acute inflammatory process of the cornea . In all cases a penetrating keratoplasty was performed . This procedure is indicated in progressive infections of the cornea, mostly caused by bacteria . Some aspects of this proceeding are discussed. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1978 Aug, 86C(4), 165 - 71 Influence of phenylbutazone on leukocyte chemiluminescence and function; Solberg CO et al.; The effect of phenylbutazone on human leukocyte chemiluminescence, phagocytosis and intracellular killing of bacteria has been examined . A marked reduction of chemiluminescence and intracellular killing of bacteria was observed . The effect on phagocytosis was less pronounced . High drug concentrations nearly abolished light emission, and concentrations equivalent to those obtained in plasma during therapy caused a 25--30% reduction . The effect occurred within less than 10 minutes . No permanent effect upon resting cells was observed . Phenylbutazone reduced the effect of sodium azide on leukocyte chemiluminescnece, indicating that the drug might also inhibit myeloperoxidase dependent chemiluminescnece . Whether these impairments of leukocyte function also take place in vivo resulting in enhanced susceptibility to infection remains unknown. Fertil Steril, 1978 Aug, 30(2), 119 - 30 Endometritis and infertility; Czernobilsky B; Endometrial biopsy is an essential tool in the evaluation of the infertile couple . Among the various causes of infertility which may be elucidated by such a biopsy, endometritis plays a significant role . In this review endometritis has been subdivided into three distinct pathologic entities: acute, chronic, and fibrotic . Detailed histologic features are discussed separately for each of these varieties . Most of the acute inflammations of the endometrium are cauased by bacteria . They are usually of short duration, respond well to treatment, and only rarely are associated with long-standing infertility . Chronic endometritis, on the other hand, can be caused by a variety of agents such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites . However, in the majority of cases with chronic endometritis the etiology cannot be determined and these are then considered nonspecific . Tuberculous endometritis, which is discussed under the heading of chronic endometritis, constitutes a common cause of infertility in certain countries but much less so in the United States . Other less common conditions such as mycoplasma infection and cytomegalic virus infection, have also been associated with reproductive failure . However, chronic endometritis, especially the most common so-called nonspecific type, is a relatively uncommon cause of infertility . The syndrome of intrauterine adhesions or synechiae has been classified here as fibrotic endometritis because of the pathogenesis and histopathology of this lesion . This entity is commonly associated with infertility and may constitute the end result of a long-standing inflammatory process in the endometrium . The diagnosis of endometritis is not a simple one and necessitates close cooperation between the clinician and pathologist . Pertinent clinical and detailed histopathologic data have to be exchanged between the treating physician and pathologist, especially in cases of infertility, in order for the patient to have benefit from the examination of endometrial tissue obtained. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1978 Aug, 75(8), 3928 - 32 Requirement of S-adenosyl-L-methionine-mediated methylation for human monocyte chemotaxis; Pike MC et al.; The chemotactic response of motile bacteria requires the methylation of specific proteins by S-adenosyl-L-methionine . To determine whether methylation is required for the chemotaxis of human leukocytes, we studied the effects of inhibition of S-adenosyl-L-methionine-mediated methylation on monocyte chemotactic responsiveness . Methylation was inhibited in monocytes by treating the cells with substances that produced elevations in intracellular S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine, a competitive inhibitor of S-adenosyl-L-methionine methylation . Treatment of isolated monocytes with the adenosine deaminase inhibitor, erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine, plus exogenous adenosine and L-homocysteine thiolactone increased intracellular S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine levels by as much as 1500-fold . Concomitant with increases in S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine were a decrease in monocyte protein carboxy-O-methylation as well as a marked inhibition of monocyte chemotactic responsiveness . Conditions that almost completely inhibited methylation and chemotaxis did not depress monocyte phagocytosis, indicating that this latter function either is independent of S-adenosyl-L-methionine-mediated methylation or is extremely resistant to inhibition of such reactions by S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine . These studies indicate that S-adenosyl-L-methionine-mediated methylation is required for the chemotaxis of eukaryotic cells and that the chemotactic and phagocytic functions of human monocytes have different requirements for methylation. J Bacteriol, 1978 Aug, 135(2), 517 - 20 Galactose catabolism in Caulobacter crescentus; Kurn N et al.; Caulobacter crescentus wild-type strain CB13 is unable to utilize galactose as the sole carbon source unless derivatives of cyclic AMP are present . Spontaneous mutants have been isolated which are able to grow on galactose in the absence of exogenous cyclic nucleotides . These mutants and the wild-type strain were used to determine the pathway of galactose catabolism in this organism . It is shown here that C . crescentus catabolizes galactose by the Entner-Duodoroff pathway . Galactose is initially converted to galactonate by galactose dehydrogenase and then 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogalactonate aldolase catalyzes the hydrolysis of 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogalactonic acid to yield triose phosphate and pyruvate . Two enzymes of galactose catabolism, galactose dehydrogenase and 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogalactonate aldolase, were shown to be inducible and independently regulated . Furthermore, galactose uptake was observed to be regulated independently of the galactose catabolic enzymes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1978 Aug, 75(8), 3551 - 4 Siderophore electrochemistry: relation to intracellular iron release mechanism; Cooper SR et al.; Previous studies have shown that there is a major difference between the iron release mechanism of enterobactin, a catechol-based siderophore, and that of the hydroxamate-based siderophores such as ferrichrome . For ferric enterobactin there is an esterase that hydrolyzes the ligand during iron release . In contrast, iron is released by the hydroxamate-based siderophores and the ligands are reused in subsequent iron transport . It has been suggested that release of iron by hydroxamates occurs by reduction to the ferrous complex, a process that does not occur for ferric enterobactin . Cyclic voltammograms of ferrichrome A and ferrioxamine B exhibit reversible one-electron waves with pH-independent formal potentials (Ef-vs . the normal hydrogen electrode) -446 and -454 mV, respectively, within the range of physiological reductants . Ferric enterobactin also shows a reversible one-electron wave (at pH greater than 10) with Ef = -986 mV vs . the normal hydrogen electrode . From the pH dependence of this potential we estimate a reduction potential of -750 mV at pH 7 . In sharp contrast to the value for the ferric hydroxamates, this value is well below the range of physiological reducing agents . The results demonstrate that the observed hydrolysis of enterobactin is a necessary prerequisite to in vivo release of iron from the siderophore via ferric ion reduction. Br J Exp Pathol, 1978 Aug, 59(4), 354 - 65 Immunity to Brucella in mice vaccinated with a fraction (F8) or a killed vaccine (H38) with or without adjuvant . Level and duration of immunity in relation to dose of vaccine, recall injection and age of mice; Bosseray N; Immunity to Brucella in the mouse, assessed by bacterial spleen counts 15 days after intraperitoneal inoculation of a standard challenge of B . abortus 544, has been studied with two vaccines, one experimental, composed of a fraction of the bacterial cell-wall (F8) extracted from B . abortus 99, the other of killed whole bacteria, B . melitensis 53 H38, taken as reference (H38) . The level of primary immunity depended on the dose of vaccine, the presence of oil adjuvant and the age of the mouse . The presence of adjuvant enabled the immunization to F8 to continue beyond the first month, to reach its maximum around the fourth month, and to remain stable for at least 7 months . A booster injection 3 or 6 months after the primary vaccination reinforced existing immunity but did not increase it beyond a certain level . The effect of the recall injection was clearly demonstrated with low doses which gave a lower level of primary immunity. Vet Med (Praha), 1978 Aug, 23(8), 479 - 83 {Isolation and identification of Clamydia psittaci as the pathogen in enzootic abortion of sheep in eastern Slovakia}; Travnicek M et al.; Abortions in ewes occurred on a large scale in three localities in eastern Slovakia . Antibodies to the group-type ornithosis antigen were detected in titres of 1 : 128 to 1 : 2048 in the aborting ewes in the mentioned localities . Suspensions were prepared from the four samples of material, obtained either from the placentae and afterbirths of the aborting ewes or from the tissues of the aborted foetuses . Seven-day old yolk sacs of chicken embryos were infected with these suspensions . Four strains of Chlamydia psittaci were isolated and designated EPO-A2-uterus, EPO-B1 aborted foetus-lung, EPO-B2-aborted foetus-lung, EPO-B3-aborted foetus-spleen . Differential diagnosis eliminated some bacteria, toxoplasma, and parainfluenza-3 virus as possible agents responsible for the abortions. Can J Microbiol, 1978 Aug, 24(8), 932 - 8 Nitrogen-fixing communities in an intertidal ecosystem; Bohlool BB et al.; Nitrogen gixation (acetylene reduction) associated with various communities in the intertidal sand and mud flat was measured in situ . Areas which were colonized by algae, plants, and animals generally had significantly higher activities than areas which were visibly uncolonized . The highest activities were measured at sites colonized by a mixed bloom of Oscillatoria-Euglena-photosynthetic bacteria . These areas occupied only about 1% of the surface of the sediments, yet contributed nearly 50% of the biologically fixed nitrogen . Enteromorpha communities also exhibited relatively high activities . Sites were grouped according to the statistical significance of the mean of their activities: group I: uncolonized sand, mud and gravel flats, Eelgrass (Zostera) communities, and snail (amphibola) beds, with an estimated contribution of 1 g N ha-1 day-1; group II: Cockel (Chione) beds, 3 g N ha-1 day-1; group III: Salicornia, Ulva, Juncus, and Enteromorpha, 10 g N ha-1 day-1; and group IV: Oscillatoria-Euglena-photosynthetic bacteria association, 200 g N ha-1 day-1 . Enteromorpha and Oscillatoria-Euglena-photosynthetic bacteria communities showed significantly lower rates of nitrogen fixation in the dark than in the light. Arch Ophthalmol, 1978 Aug, 96(8), 1431 - 6 Ocular involvement in Whipple's disease: light and electron microscopic observations; Font RL et al.; A 52-year-old man had a prolonged history of nondeforming migratory polyarthritis and a short episode of pericarditis preceding the onset of bilateral vitreitis and retinitis . The clinical course was characterized by progressive deterioration of vision, increasing lethargy, and dementia, leading to coma and death from pneumonia (21 months later) . No intestinal manifestations were recorded . Both eyes, which were removed postmortem, disclosed numerous PAS-positive macrophages throughout the inner retina and vitreous . Electron microscopic studies of the macrophages displayed intracytoplasmic, degenerating, rod-shaped bacteria and membranous structures identical to those seen in the intestine, brain, heart, and other tissues of patients with Whipple's disease . Clinicians should include Whipple's disease, and reticulum cell sarcoma, in the differential diagnosis of patients with bilateral retinitis and vitreitis, especially if these disorders are associated with CNS manifestations. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 Aug, 36(2), 375 - 6 Storage quality of dark, firm, dry meat; Newton KG et al.; Dark, firm, dry meat contains little or no glucose . Therefore, spoilage bacteria growing on such meat immediately attack amino acids so that spoilage odors and ammonia are detectable at comparatively low cell densities (about 10(6)/cm2). Biophys Struct Mech, 1978 Jul 12, 4(3), 237 - 49 Passive electrical properties of Halobacterium species . I . Low-frequency range; Ginzburg M et al.; The electrical conductivity of suspensions of two species of Halobacterium was measured at low A . C . frequency . The results obtained from Halobacterium halobium suspensions show that the bacteria act as non-conducting particles . In contrast, the cells of a Halobacterium obtained from the Dead Sea (Halobacterium marismortui) had an apparently high conductivity which can be explained partly in terms of the cell-membrane being pierced by pores through which ions can move freely and partly in terms of highly concentrated cell ions, all of which are mobile. Dis Colon Rectum, 1978 Jul-Aug, 21(5), 319 - 21 Peroperative fine-needle aspiration biopsy: an aid to differential diagnosis between diverticular disease and colonic cancer? A preliminary report; Axelsson CK et al.; Fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed at laparotomy on 15 patients in whose cases differential diagnosis between colonic diverticulitis and colonic cancer on the basis of preoperative and peroperative examinations was impossible . Histologic examination confirmed the cytologic diagnosis to be correct in 14 cases, in four of them correctly positive for tumor cells . There was one false-negative result . Culture of swabs taken from 11 patients after puncture showed growth of intestinal bacteria in five cases, but no complication developed in association with or after the punctures . Peroperative fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a cheap, simple, rapid and safe method that seems to offer a reliable aid to differential diagnosis between diverticulitis and carcinoma . With the use of a rapid staining technique, the result can be available as early as that of frozen-section microscopic examination. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 Jul, 36(1), 1 - 7 Kinetic parameters and relative turnovers of some important catabolic reactions in digesting sludge; Kaspar HF et al.; The kinetics of propionate degradation, acetate splitting, and hydrogen consumption in digesting sludge were investigated in a lab-scale digester . At natural steady-state conditions, the acetate-splitting systems in well-digested sludge were about half saturated . Propionate-degrading systems were saturated to only 10 to 15%, and hydrogen removal was less than 1% of the maximum possible rate . It was concluded that acetate splitting rather than "methanogenesis from fatty acids" is the rate-limiting reaction in the anaerobic degradation of dissolved organic matter and that a methoanogenic anaerobic ecosystem is stabilized by its large unused capacity of hydrogen consumption which is "buffering" the partial pressure of dissolved hydrogen in the system at sufficiently low values to permit rapid fatty acid oxidation . A tentative scheme of the substrate flow in sludge digestion is presented . It suggests that acid formation coupled with hydrogen formation via pyridine dinucleotide oxidation yields the immediate substrates, namely acetate and hydrogen, for about 54% of the total methanogenesis. J Biochem (Tokyo), 1978 Jul, 84(1), 231 - 4 The terminal bases of ribonucleic acid from Caulobacter RNA phage phiCp2; Fujiki K et al.; The terminal bases of the viral ribonucleic acid from the Caulobacter ribonucleic acid phage phiCp2 were examined . The viral ribonucleic acid contained guanosine triphosphate (pppG) at the 5'-terminus and adenosine (AOH) at the 3'-terminus. Equine Vet J, 1978 Jul, 10(3), 145 - 7 The course of serum antibody development in two ponies experimentally infected with contagious metritis; Dawson FL et al.; Serum agglutination tests, anti-globulin tests, and complement fixation tests were carried out on sera taken over a period of 98 days from two fillies experimentally infected with the contagious equine metritis organism . The pattern, and significance in diagnosis, of these results is discussed . All 3 tests showed positive titres in the acute phase of experimental disease; reactions in the complement fixation test persisted longest. Transfusion, 1978 Jul-Aug, 18(4), 474 - 8 Blood group testing of ancient material with particular reference to the mummy Nakht; Hart GD et al.; An international multidisciplinary team performed an autopsy on the mummy of Nakht, a 16-year-old Egyptian boy who died 3200 years ago . Excavation records and translation of hieroglyphics provide a positive identification . The histological techniques, both at the light and electron microscope levels, demonstrate remarkable preservation of normal and diseased structures . Splenic material and dark brown substance obtained from the inside of the sigmoid sinus of Nakht, during the examination of the contents of the cranial cavity, were tested using the SMM and IAT procedures . Repeated testing of the splenic material using SMM produced no agglutination and was complicated by hemolysis of the absorbed group O cells due to contaminating bacteria and fungi . However, when used in the IAT, splenic material gave a positive result for blood group B . The sigmoid sinus material produced a positive reaction for blood group B when used with the SMM and with the IAT . The blood cells recovered from Nakht are believed to be the oldest known preserved human red and white blood cells . The authors also believe that the testing techniques employed in this study are reliable and hence feel confident that the Egyptian boy Nakht, who is 3200 years old, was blood group B. Nucleic Acids Res, 1978 Jul, 5(7), 2373 - 80 A general method for the purification of restriction enzymes; Greene PJ et al.; An abbreviated procedure has been developed for the purification of restriction endonucleases . This procedure uses chromatography on phosphocellulose and hydroxylapatite and results in enzymes of sufficient purity to permit their use in the sequencing, molecular cloning, and physical mapping of DNA. J Urol, 1978 Jul, 120(1), 67 - 70 The etiology of non-specific urethritis in active duty Marines; Klousia JW et al.; We studied patients with non-specific urethritis and control subjects at our dispensary . These patients and controls were matched for age, rank and sexual activity, and studied for the presence of bacteria, virus, Trichomonas and Mycoplasma . No significant bacteria were found in either group . No Trichomonas was identified, only 1 herpes II was recovered and no cytomegalovirus was found . Mycoplasma were cultured from patients and controls . The rate of colonization varied, depending upon several factors, but the significant factors seemed to be associated with the number of sexual partners . Those men with more than 1 sexual partner had a significantly increased colonization with Mycoplasma. J Bacteriol, 1978 Jul, 135(1), 10 - 7 Regulation of cell cycle events in asymmetrically dividing cells: functions required for DNA initiation and chain elongation in Caulobacter crescentus; Osley MA et al.; To study the regulation of cell cycle events after asymmetric cell division in Caulobacter crescentus, we have identified functions that are required for DNA synthesis in the stalked cell produced at division and in the new stalked cell that develops from the swarmer cell 60 min after division . The initiation of DNA synthesis in the two progeny cells is dependent upon at least two common functions . One of these is a requirement for protein synthesis and the other is a gene product identified in a temperature-sensitive cell cycle mutant . DNA chain elongation requires a third common function . The characteristic pattern of DNA synthesis in C . crescentus appears to be controlled in part by the expression of these functions in the two stalked cells at different times after cell division . The age distribution for Caulobacter cells in an exponential population has been calculated (Appendix by Robert Tax) and used to analyze some of the results. Am J Dis Child, 1978 Jul, 132(7), 675 - 7 Mycobacterial lymphadenitis in childhood; Schuit KE et al.; A total of 42 cases of childhood mycobacterial adenitis have been studied to define the optimal steps that lead to the correct diagnosis of this disease . Antigens from the atypical mycobacteria are not currently available, so the usefulness of tuberculin skin testing as a diagnostic tool was examined . Skin testing differentiates mycobacterial adenitis from infection caused by pyogenic bacteria . In addition, repetitive skin testing with tuberculin over a three- to six-month period is also useful in differentiating adenitis caused by atypical mycobacteria from that due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis . Children with atypical mycobacterial adenitis have a decreasing tuberculin response to repeated testing, while children with tuberculous adenitis have a stable response . Other factors that assist in the differentiation of adenitides include a history of recent exposure to tuberculosis and evidence of extralymphatic tuberculosis . Needle aspiration or partial excision in mycobacterial adenitis may lead to drainage and sinus tract information . A PPD skin test should be done prior to surgical manipulation of enlarged nodes . Children with reactive skin tests should undergo complete excision. Vox Sang, 1978 Jul-Aug, 35(1-2), 81 - 90 Reversal reaction in patients with lepromatous leprosy after transplantation of human fetal thymic grafts; Saha K et al.; An attempt has been made to reconstitute impaired cell-mediated immunity in 1 patient with indeterminate, 4 patients with borderline and 2 patients with polar lepromatous leprosy by grafting three thymus glands obtained from human fetuses of 14--19 weeks gestation . Most of these patients had severe ulcerative erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) and were intolerant to dapsone . After thymus transplantation these patients were followed for 1 1/2 years . During this period, all conventional chemotherapy had been withdrawn . In most cases, there was dramatic improvement of the clinical condition, resolution of skin lesions, subsidence of ENL, clearance of bacteria from skin and reconstitution of several immunologic deficits; but late lepromin reactivity returned in none, which indicated permanent lose of resistance to Mycobacterium leprae. Refuat Hapeh Vehashinayim, 1978 Jul, 27(3), 25 - 9, 23-5 Marginal leakage in amalgam restorations and its prevention; Ben-Amar A et al.; Marginal leakage is the penetration of fluids, bacteria and ions into the space existing between all restorative materials and cavity walls . It can cause pulp irritation, colour changes in the tooth and secondary caries, and may result in failure of the restoration . The margins of a fresh amalgam restoration invariably leak . As time passes there is a decrease in marginal leakage related to the production of corrosion products and the spreading of certain materials into the space between the tooth and the restoration . Correct cavity margin preparation and proper condensation of the restorative material minimize marginal leakage round fresh amalgam restorations . Varnish coated on the cavity walls is most important and an indispensable method for preventing marginal leakage. J Clin Pathol, 1978 Jul, 31(7), 648 - 53 Lysosomal enzyme cytochemistry of blood neutrophils; Wozniak JT et al.; Patients with bacterial infection may show altered membrane permeability of the primary azurophilic lysosomes of blood neutrophils . A new enzyme cytochemical technique, sensitive to increased membrane permeability caused by contact of neutrophils with acetone, saponin, low pH, Streptolysin O, bacteria, and nylon wool, has been developed . The method is of potential value as a screening test for bacterial infection and for detecting neutrophil damage during filtration leucopheresis. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 1978 Jul, 62(1), 56 - 60 Airborne Aspergillus fumigatus levels outside and within a large clinical center; Solomon WR et al.; Most considerations of Aspergillus fumigatus prevalence have implied that patterns of occurrence observed within London hospitals are generally applicable . Since prevalence data are almost nonexistent elsewhere, this assumption remains untested . To provide a comparison relevant to North America, we have monitored thermotolerant fungi outside as well as at two sites within the University Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan, during one year . Collections were made with paired Andersen samplers and malt agar for 30- to 40-min periods in a hallway adjacent to 6W, a general medical ward (47 days), and 2W, a lower level service and supply area (40 days); in addition, 10-min outdoor samples (44 days) were taken on an unobstructed hospital rooftop (out) . Recoveries were analyzed after 3 and 7 days of 37 degrees C aerobic incubation . Virtually complete suppression of Cladosporium form species at 37 degrees left a mycoflora with A . fumigatus, A . niger, Paecilomyces spp., Mucor spp., and yeast/bacteria predominating . Although the proportions of samples yielding A . fumigatus were 76% for 6W, 57% for 2W, and 56% (out), levels exceeded 40 isolates/m3 only twice and were over 10 isolates/m3 on only 10 of 131 total samples . For 6W, 2W and out, respectively, means were 4.78, 1.97, and 6.25 isolates/m3; medians were 1.20, 1.05 and 1.75/m3 without annual trends indoors and with only a limited outdoor summer increase . Our data fail entirely to show the fall-winter abundance observed in the London report and suggest substantially lower indoor exposure levels of A . fumigatus than those noted in London. Mikrobiologiia, 1978 Jul-Aug, 47(4), 739 - 44 {Electron microscopic data on the mesosomelike and myelinlike structures of blue-green algae}; Avakian AA et al.; The mesosome-like structures of blue-green algae were studied by freeze-etching without preliminary fixation and, in parallel, by a technique of ultrathin sections . These structures were found mainly in Synechococcus elongatus and Synechocystis aquatilis, less often, in Anacystis nidulans and Anabaena variabilis, and were not detected in Plectonema boryanum . The following types of membrane structures were encountered: (1) formation consisting of three- and five-layered membranes and resembling the lamellar mesosomes of bacteria; (2) complex structures consisting of five-layered membranes and separated from the cytoplasm by an electron-dense substance not found in bacteria; (3) myelin-like structures; (4) formations intermediate between the mesosome-like and myelin-like structures . These structures were not found to be strictly confined to the growth phase of a culture . Possible functions of the mesosome-like and myelin-like structures are discussed ct . those of bacteria. Mikrobiologiia, 1978 Jul-Aug, 47(4), 733 - 8 {Cytomorphology of the lipid inclusions of Caryophanon during its growth on an agarized medium}; Shekhovtsev VP et al.; The cytomorphology of lipid inclusions of Caryophanon latum and Caryophanon tenue was studied in the course of their growth on a solid medium . The paper presents a detailed scheme and microphotographs showing cytomorphological changes in the inclusions of the cultures under study . Staining of the preparations with the lipophilic dye Sudan Black B revealed two types of sudanophilic granules which varied in their location within trichomes, the time at which they appeared in bacteria, and their behaviour toward solvents . These lipid inclusions of Caryophanon are mainly represented by the polymer poly-beta-hydroxybutyric acid. Ann Immunol (Paris), 1978 Jul-Sep, 129 C(5), 669 - 83 Response of high and low antibody producer to Brucella; Cannat A et al.; Biozzi's high and low lines of antibody producers have been applied to an analysis of murine in vivo responses to Brucella . High responders (H/Ab) are better producers of anti-Brucella antibodies and of Brucella induced interferon than low responders (L/Ab) . There is no interstrain difference between H/Ab and L/Ab mice as regards to cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions to melitin . Non-immunized L/Ab mice are more resistant to infection with live Brucella than H/Ab . Immunization with formalin killed Brucella leads to a specific protection of both H/Ab and L/Ab mice but magnifies their inter-strain differences: L/Ab are much better protected by preimmunization than H/Ab . The difference between H/Ab and L/Ab mice is not related to an earlier clearance of intravenously inoculated bacteria from the blood stream but to later events affecting the balance between multiplication and digestion of the injected bacteria in the spleen . The lower resistance of H/Ab mice is not due to negative, facilitating-like, activities of immune antibodies: on the contrary, these are shown to have protective properties . These results are discussed in terms of their contribution to present knowledge on Biozzi's mice and their macrophagic functions, on the relations between interferon synthesis and the immune system, and on the mechanism of natural and post-vaccinal protection toward Brucella. J Med Chem, 1978 Jul, 21(7), 709 - 12 5-Carboxamido-4-amino-3-isoxazolidone, and asparagine analogue; Stammer CH et al.; trans-Aziridine-2,3-dicarboxylic ester was used to prepare the required beta-chlorohydroxamic acid used in the synthesis of the title compound . The trans configuration of the asparagine analogue was established by hydrogenolysis to erythro-beta-hydroxyasparagine amide . Neither the title compound nor the intermediate aziridinehydroxamic acid (8) showed significant activity against the L1210 and P-388 tumors . The title compound was inactive as an inhibitor of asparagine synthetase from Novikoff hepatoma and did not inhibit the growth of some 25 bacteria and fungi. Z Lebensm Unters Forsch, 1978 Jun 28, 166(5), 284 - 6 Influence of sodium tripolyphosphate and citric acid on the shelf life of thornback ray (Raja clavata L.); Vyncke W; Sodium tripolyphosphate dips (5 min in 12% solution) extended shelf life of thornback ray wings by about 2 days, improved the appearance and eliminated weight losses . With citric acid dips (5 min in 0.5% solution) a 3 day extension of storage life was obtained but the treatment had a slight bleaching effect and caused weight losses of about 5% . Both compounds were effective in retarding the breakdown of urea with formation of ammonia in thorback ray. Science, 1978 Jun 23, 200(4348), 1401 - 3 Comparison of rhapidosomes and asbestos microfibrils; Hutchison WG et al.; Rhapidosomers (cylindrical nucleoprotein rods of bacterial origin) show great structural similarity to the microfibrils of chrysotile asbestos when negatively stained and observed with the electron microscope . If the negative stain is omitted, the asbestos retains its structural detail whereas the rhapidosomes appear to be unstructured bodies . When the microscope is adjusted into a selected area diffraction mode, the asbestos shows characteristic electron diffraction patterns whereas the rhapidosomes appear to be amorphous to electron diffraction. Biochemistry, 1978 Jun 13, 17(12), 2374 - 7 Preparation of coenzyme M analogues and their activity in the methyl coenzyme M reductase system of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum; Gunsalus RP et al.; A number of 2-(methylthio)ethanesulfonate (methyl-coenzyme M) analogues were synthesized and investigated as substrates for methyl-coenzyme M reductase, an enzyme system found in extracts of Methanobacterterium thermoautotrophicum . Replacement of the methyl moiety by an ethyl group yielded an analogue which served as a precursor for ethane formation . Propyl-coenzyme M, however, was not converted to propane . Analogues which contained additional methylene carbons such as 3-(methylthio)propanesulfonate or 4-(methylthio)butanesulfonate or analogues modified at the sulfide or sulfonate position, N-methyltaurine and 2-(methylthio)ethanol, were inactive . These analogues, in addition to a number of commercially available compounds, also were tested for their ability to inhibit the reduction of methyl-coenzyme M to methane . Bromoethanesulfonate and chloroethanesulfonate proved to be potent inhibitors of the reductase, resulting in 50% inhibition at 7.9 X 10(6) M and 7.5 X 10(5) M . Analogues to coenzyme M which contained modifications to other regions were evaluated also and found to be weak inhibitors of methane biosynthesis. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1978 Jun 9, 524(2), 277 - 87 Purification and properties of methanol dehydrogenase from Hyphomicrobium x; Duine JA et al.; (1) A method for the isolation of methanol dehydrogenase (alcohol:(acceptor) oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.99.8) from Hyphomicrobium X is decribed . The purified enzyme was resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis into one main and two minor active bands . Iron and manganese were the only detected metals in the enzyme preparation . (2) The substrate, methanol, was oxidized to formic acid by a stoichiometric amount of artificial electron acceptor . During the reaction, no free formaldehyde could be detected . Other primary alcohols were oxidized to the corresponding aldehydes were a poor substrate or no substrate at all . (3) Some new and efficient one-electron acceptors were found . With these electron acceptors, the enzyme had a high pH optimum and ammonia was still required in the assay system . (4) ESR spectroscopy showed the presence of an enzyme-bound organic free radical . With X-band ESR the signal had a peak-to-peak linewidth of about 0.7 mT . The signal was further resolved by Q-band ESR and the values gparallel = 2.0024 and gperpendicular = 2.0056 were derived . (5) Under denaturing conditions the ESR signal and enzymatic activity disappeared at the same time as fluorescence appeared . Enzymatic activity is not restored when extracted cofactor and apoenzyme are brought together under normal conditions . Some properties of the unusual prosthetic group are presented in a preliminary form. Tohoku J Exp Med, 1978 Jun, 125(2), 155 - 62 Risk of systemic infections associated with umbilical vessel catheterization; Kumagai T et al.; The purpose of the present study is to determine the risk of infections associated with umbilical vessel catheterization . During a period of recent four years, 97 catheters were inserted into the umbilical vessels of 94 newborn infants in a newborn nursery . Thirty percent of the catheter tips were colonized upon removal with pathogens (11%) and contaminants . The rate of catheter colonization was not dependent on sex, gestational age, birth weight and duration of catheterization . Bacteria were isolated from blood specimen drawn via the catheter upon removal in one patient, but blood sample from peripheral artery and catheter tip yielded no organisms in this patient . One patient (1%) was found to be septicemic while the catheter was in place . Culture of the catheter tip and blood drawn via the catheter proved unreliable in the diagnosis of subsequent systemic infection . Judicious surveillance for systemic infection by peripheral blood culture is necessary. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 Jun, 35(6), 1052 - 60 Phytoplankton uptake and excretion of assimilated nitrate in a small Canadian shield lake; Chan HK et al.; Nitrate uptake in the epilemnetic waters of a small eutrophic Canadian Shield lake was studied by using a 15N method during summer stratification . Concurrent with inhibition of primary production, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea inhibited NO3- assimilation . Nitrate up to 1 mg of N/liter did not affect the rate of primary production during 3 h of incubation . The NO3- fertilizer added to the lake weekly was consumed through algal assimilation in about 3 days . Excretion of the photoassimilated NO3- as dissolved organic nitrogen represented a significant portion of the nutrient incorporated by the cells . Only 40% of the NO3- -15N which disappeared could be accounted for in the particulate fraction . Although the rest was presumably excreted, only 15% of the 15N label was accounted for as cationic dissolved organic nitrogen by isotope assays . These excreted organic forms were predominantly serine and glycine in the dissolved free amino acid fraction . Bacteria as well as algae might be expected to contribute to and modify the extracellular nitrogen pool. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 Jun, 35(6), 1027 - 34 Effect of sulfur-containing compounds on anaerobic degradation of cellulose to methane by mixed cultures obtained from sewage sludge; Khan AW et al.; Tests were made to determine the effects of inorganic and organic sulfur sources on the degradation of cellulose to methane in a chemically defined medium with sulfur-poor inoculum prepared from sewage sludge . The results show that a sulfur source of about a 0.85 mM concentration is essential for the degradation of cellulose to CH4 . However, the production of CH4 from CO2 and H2 provided in the headspace occurred with 0.1 mM sulfate or sulfide . At a 9 mM concentration, all inorganic sulfur compounds other than sulfate inhibited both cellulose degradation and methane formation, and this inhibition increased in the order thiosulfate less than sulfite less than sulfide less than H2S . It appears that the degradation of cellulose to CH4 in a sulfate-free medium by inoculum maintained in a low-sulfur medium is inhibited because of the lack of availability of sulfur for growth of bacteria and synthesis of cell materials and sulfur-containing cofactors involved in cellulose degradation and methanogenesis . The reduction of methanogenesis by higher levels of sulfate probably occurs as a result of stimulation of reactions converting acetate and H2 to end products other than CH4. Am J Dig Dis, 1978 Jun, 23(6), 561 - 7 Fulminant hepatic failure secondary to amebic abscesses; Saltzman DA et al.; A patient presented with fulminant hepatic failure which rapidly led to his death . At postmortem examination, he had several amebic abscesses secondarily infected with bacteria, one of which had ruptured intraperitoneally, and another of which had occluded major hepatic veins of the right lobe of the liver . In addition, pylephlebitis and occlusion of several right portal venous radicles were noted . Microscopic examination of the right lobe revealed marked sinusoidal congestion and large areas of infarction with severe panlobular necrosis . Fulminant hepatic failure secondary to complications of amebic abscess has been reported infrequently but should be considered in patients with this presentation who have visited or inhabited areas endemic for amebiasis. J Pediatr Surg, 1978 Jun, 13(3), 315 - 20 Paracentesis and lavage for diagnosis of intestinal gangrene in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis; Kosloske AM et al.; A study to evaluate peritoneal fluid as an index of intestinal gangrene in infants with necrotizing entercolitis (NEC) was begun in 1974 . Twenty samples of peritoneal fluid were obtained by paracentesis or lavage from 15 infants with nonperforated NEC . A brown color in the peritoneal fluid was noted in all 8 patients found to have intestinal gangrene at subsequent operation . Gram stain showed bacteria in 6 of these 8 patients and bacterial cultures were confimatory in all but one . In 12 samples of peritoneal fluid in patients without intestinal gangrene, the fluid was straw-colored or pink and Gram stain showed no bacteria . The decision to operate on an infant with intestinal gangrene and impending perforation may be aided by analysis of the peritoneal fluid. J Pediatr Surg, 1978 Jun, 13(3), 255 - 7 A new nonoperative treatment of large omphaloceles with a polymer membrane; Ein SH et al.; The management of a huge omphalocele that cannot be primarily closed presents many difficulties . When surgery is technically impossible, the application of a Silon pouch carries a serious risk of infection and painting the sac with tinctures has its own peculiar problems . A newborn baby with a large unruptured omphalocele was successfully treated by covering the sac with a skin-like polymer membrane that is flexible, elastic, and impervious to bacteria and water . The covering did not adhere to the underlying tissues and did not interfere with gastrointestinal function . Infection was not a problem . This material was wrapped around the trunk and covered with a dry sterile dressing . The entire dressing was removed after 3 wk, revealing a small residual area of granulations that subsequently healed at home . This baby was not operated upon . We have also used this technique in a second newborn in whom the sac had ruptured . The rent was repaired and the membrane applied . This method does not eliminate later closure of the large ventral hernia, but ccertainly eliminates the necessity for surgery in the newborn period. J Parasitol, 1978 Jun, 64(3), 445 - 7 Survival of Trichinella spiralis larvae in sewage sludge anaerobic digesters; Fitzgerald PR et al.; The survival of some bacteria, viruses, protozoans, and helminths through the sewage digestion process has been a question of considerable concern among researchers throughout the world . Among the most resistant organisms are some of the pathogenic roundworms and tapeworms . Encysted larvae of Trichinella spiralis are sometimes present in animal tissues discarded as waste from slaughterhouses, restaurants or other sources . In experimental anaerobic sewage digesters, encysted larvae of T . spiralis, in rat muscle, were able to survive a maximum of 96 hr in a "batch" digester . In a digester "fed" daily with small numbers of encysted larvae, "draw-off" remained infective for white rats throughout a 16-day experimental period . Potentially infective material could be present when there is continuous "draw-off" from the anaerobic digesters. Diabetes, 1978 Jun, 27(6), 677 - 81 Impaired granulocyte adherence . A reversible defect in host defense in patients with poorly controlled diabetes; Bagdade JD et al.; When the ability of granulocytes from 10 poorly controlled diabetic patients with fasting hyperglycemia and no evidence of ketoacidosis (mean fasting glucose 293 +/- 20 mg . per 100 ml.; mean +/- S.E.M.) to adhere to a nylon fiber column was assessed, the number of adherent granulocytes from whole blood was only 53 +/- 6 per cent of the values observed in controls . After antidiabetic treatment for one to two weeks and lowering of fasting glucose levels (mean 198 +/- 29 mg . per 100 ml.), adherence improved significantly (p less than 0.01) in the diabetics; however, their values were still subnormal (diabetic 74 per cent +/- 8 of control; p less than 0.02) . Adherence values before and after treatment correlated with the fasting glucose level (r = 0.88, p less than 0.001) . These findings suggest that, in addition to previously reported abnormalities in migration and the ingestion and killing of bacteria, granulocyte adherence may also be impaired in poorly controlled diabetic patients . This functional abnormality correlates directly with the fasting glucose and is reversed by insulin treatment . A defect of this type may compromise the normal inflammatory response in some diabetics and impair their capacity to resist infection. Am J Pathol, 1978 Jun, 91(3), 451 - 68 Transmissible ileal hyperplasia of hamsters . II . Ultrastructure; Johnson EA et al.; The ultrastructure of developing ileal lesions was characterized in weanling hamsters with experimentally induced transmissible ileal hyperplasia (TIH) . The primary lesion was mucosal hyperplasia with progressive replacement of mature villus columnar absorptive cells by undifferentiated crypt-type cells . The undifferentiated, mitotically active cells expanded onto villus walls from their normal location in crypts by Day 10 and reached villus tips by Day 14 . Aggregates of slightly curved, 0.3 X 1.5 mu, rod-shaped bacteria were detected in the apical cytoplasm of crypt epithelium by Day ; . They replicated intracellularly and accumulated in progressively greater numbers in hyperplastic cells . Active penetration of cells by intralumenal bacteria was not seen . The appearance and distribution of TIH-associated antigen, demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence, was identical to that observed for intracellular bacteria . Hyperplastic, bacteria-laden crypt epithelium penetrated adjacent supporting tissues . Dilated crypts with flattened epithelium ruptured and released organisms into surrounding tissues . Pyogranulomatous inflammation began at 17 to 25 days and preceded or accompanied penetration of the muscle layers by expanding crypts . Macrophages and neutrophils in inflammatory lesions contained many phagocytized bacteria . In some advanced lesions mature, bacteria-free absorptive cells and goblet cells reappeared . These observations support the hypothesis that intestinal bacteria cause TIH. Aust J Biol Sci, 1978 Jun, 31(3), 241 - 6 Enzyme activities and protein and carbohydrate concentrations in cervical secretions at dioestrus in normal ewes and ewes with permanent phytooestrogenic infertility; Tang BY et al.; Cervical secretions of clover-affected and control ewes in the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle were obtained by flushing the anterior vagina . The flushings were analysed for proteins, carbohydrates and enzyme activities, and were found to be similar to the secretions of the normal ovine uterus . There was significantly more protein, carbohydrate and acid-soluble glycoprotein but less alkaline phosphatase, N-acetylglycosidases (EC 3.2.1.30 and 3.2.1.53) and ribonuclease I in the vaginal flushings of clover-affected ewes . The observed changes were not due to more inflammation in the cervix of clover-affected ewes as there were fewer bacteria, leukocytes and epithelial cells and no elevation of lysozomal enzyme activities in their flushings . It is suggested that the cervix of the clover-affected ewe behaves as though under a stronger than normal oestrogenic stimulation during dioestrus. Br J Cancer Suppl, 1978 Jun, 37(3), 98 - 102 Platinum complexes as radiosensitizers of hypoxic mammalian cells; Douple EB et al.; Cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum (II), or cis-PDD, has recently been shown to be a potent radiosensitizer of bacteria, particularly under conditions of acute hypoxia . This study extends this observation to include the radiosensitization of mammalian cell (V-79) by low concentrations of cis-PDD, cis-dichlorobis(aziridine) platinum (II), and the trans-isomer of PDD as measured from survival curve analysis . This radiosensitization was obtained at concentrations of 10 micrometer, 60 micrometer, and 100 micrometer for the cis-PDD, aziridine-platinum, and trans-isomer respectively . The corresponding drug toxicity survival levels were 8, 40 and 50% . Dose modification factors of around 1.3 to 1.4 were observed. Am J Pathol, 1978 Jun, 91(3), 469 - 82 The effect of phorbol myristate acetate on the metabolism and ultrastructure of human alveolar macrophages; Hoidal JR et al.; In the present investigation we examined the influence of the surface-active agent phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and opsonized heat-killed bacteria (HKB) on oxygen consumption, superoxide release, and glucose oxidation of human alveolar macrophages (AM) . Both PMA and HKB produced a surge in oxygen consumption, superoxide release, and oxidation of 1-14C-glucose and 6-14C-glucose by human AM . Examination of AM by electron microscopy following stimulation by these two agents demonstrated membrane ruffling, loss of microvilli, and increased vacuolization in PMA-treated cells and phagocytic vacuoles containing bacteria in HKB-treated cells . The vacuolization produced by PMA-treated AM was much less striking than the vacuolization produced in PMA-treated leukocytes . The similarity in the metabolic and some of the physical responses of AM stimulated by PMA and HKB suggest that PMA may be a useful agent for evaluating cell-membrane-related events of phagocytosis in AM. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Jun, (6), 85 - 9 {Prospects for the use of blood substitutes made in the USSR with the expired date of validity}; Raskin BM et al.; As revealed, blood substitutes--aminopeptide, caseine hydrolysate, and hydrolysine with the expired date of validity could be used as the basis of nutrient media for the cultivation of bacteria . Bacterial growth proved to be the optimum in addition to the blood substitutes of a 0.25--0.5% of yeast extract. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Jun, (6), 55 - 61 {Immunoelectrophoretic analysis of the antigenic structure of Sh . sonnei}; Nguen Zui Kho et al.; The authors studied the antigenic composition of 105 Sh . sonnei strains freshly isolated from patients suffering from acute dysentery and carriers . Immunophoregrams of pure S-and R-forms species were obtained . Up to 13 antigens differing by electrophoretic and diffusion mobility and immunological specificity were revealed among soluble Sh . sonnei antigens The position of common and specific antigens was determined on the immunophoregram . Along with the thermostable somatic O-antigen detected at the I phase of the S-forms, and two thermolabile O-antigen components at the II phase, and the R-forms, there was revealed a surface, relatively thermolabile, K-antigen of A-type capable of agglutinating live bacteria in the O-antiserum; position of the latter on the immunophoregram was also determined. Fortschr Med, 1978 May 25, 96(20), 1058 - 63 {Complications due to soft hydrophilic contact lenses}; Neuhann T; Soft hydrophilic contact lenses are widely favored thanks to their minimal ocular irritation . They may, however, also cause severe eye disease . In this report, allergies, hypoxia, tear film alterations, toxic effects and infections, as caused by soft lenses, are described, and their diagnosis, differential diagnosis and prophylaxis discussed . Moreover, it is pointed out that a misdiagnosis of "contact lens intolerance" may have serious consequences. Lancet, 1978 May 20, 1(8073), 1072 - 5 Is skin preparation necessary before insulin injection? Koivisto VA, Felig P. The effect of routine skin preparation on skin bacterial flora was measured in thirteen insulin-dependent diabetic patients . 5 seconds of skin cleansing of sites on the leg, arm, and abdomen with 70% isopropyl alcohol reduced bacterial counts by 82-91% . During a 3-5 month observation period the subjects omitted skin preparation before insulin injection every other week . More than 1700 insulin injections were given without skin preparation . No signs of local or systemic infection were observed . These results indicate that routine skin preparation with alcohol before insulin injection markedly reduces skin bacterial-counts but may not be necessary to prevent infection at the injection sites. Experientia, 1978 May 15, 34(5), 596 - 8 Cocci and diphtheroids in blood cultures from patients in various pathological situations; Tedeschi GG et al.; The evolution of cocci and diphtheroids taking origin from cell-wall-deficient forms seems not to be related to a particular state of illness, but to be the consequence of a generalized crypto-infection. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1978 May 10, 502(2), 354 - 8 EPR properties of the reaction center of Rhodopseudomas gelatinosa in situ and in a detergent-solubilized form; Prince RC et al.; The photochemical reaction centers from a variety of purple photosynthetic bacteria are composed of a trimer of protein subunits . However, the recently isolated reaction center from Rhodopseudomonas gelatinosa appears to have only two subunits . In this paper we examine the EPR characteristics of the primary photochemical reactants in this species, and compare them with those of other species . Despite of the differences in protein composition, no dramatic differences in EPR properties are seen in vivo, although some interesting effects are seen upon solubilization of the reaction center, which may be related to the unusual lability of the isolated preparation . Perhaps the most noteworthy phenomenon seen in Rps . gelatinosa is the apparent ability of electrons on the reduced intermediary electron carrier to tunnel at low temperatures to the oxidized c-type cytochrome, which has not been seen in other species studied to date. Med Instrum, 1978 May-Jun, 12(3), 161 - 4 The operating room and the ultraviolet environment; Lowell JD et al.; Clean surgical wounds may be contaminated from three separate sources: endogenously from the patient himself; exogenously from direct contamination by unsterile instruments, drapes, gowns, hands, or gloves; and by bacteria settling from that final common pathway, the air over the operative field . The advent of total joint replacement precipitated a renewed consciousness in the orthopedic community of the disastrous consequences a wound infection can have upon the orthopedic patient . Deep infection around a total joint replacement can convert a procedure with a 95 percent probability of success to a total disaster, leaving the patient worse than prior to operation . Most orthopedists use at least two accepted methods of preventing deep wound infection in the postoperative period: the application of topical antibiotics during surgery, and the intravenous infusion of systemic antibiotics during and after surgery for a brief period . In addition, many orthopedic surgeons are operating in clean air rooms with body exhaust systems; others are operating in an ultraviolet environment . Orthopedic surgery in the ultraviolet environment has been used at the brigham hospitals since 1973 . The infection rate has dropped from 3.8 percent to 1.04 percent in a series of 2000 patients . However, inconveniences and hazards have been experienced in the use of ultraviolet radiation in the operating room. Acta Pathol Jpn, 1978 May, 28(3), 481 - 90 Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis . Autopsy study of two fatal cases in adults; Eimoto T; Two cases of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI), apparently of different etiologies, were found at autopsy in cancer patients . One case was associated with chronic obstructive lung disease and with emphysema of soft tissues of the mediastinum, retroperitoneum, and mesentery, whereas the other showed pseudomembranous enteritis with bacterial and fungal overgrowths . The latter case supports the role of gas-forming bacteria, while the former provides an anatomical evidence of pulmonary disease as a cause of PCL . Obstruction of the upper gastrointestinal tract may contribute to the occurrence of PCI by a complication of aspiration pneumonitis or disturbance of the normal bacterial flora of the intestine as well as an increase of the intraluminal pressure . In addition to the etiologic considerations, the importance of clinical diagnosis of PCI has been emphasized since both cases in the present report were more or less related to the cause of death. J Chir (Paris), 1978 May, 115(5), 275 - 8 {Aseptic inflammatory reaction in surgery of the knee (author's transl)}; Lemaire M; The author reports 15 cases which show the clinical and laboratory characteristics and treatment of the aseptic inflammatory reaction observed after operation on the knee . It should be carefully distinguished from pyogenic arthritis; the clinical signs and the appearance of the synovial fluid are identical . Only laboratory examination permits ones to distinguish them, by the presence or absence of bacteria . This is a benign complication which becomes cured within a few days by common medical anti-inflammatory treatment . The danger is confusion with septic arthritis and the choice of inappropriate treatment, which often causes severe sequelae of even secondary infection . The true cause of this complication which in every way resembles acute inflammatory rheumatism, remains unknown. Mikrobiologiia, 1978 May-Jun, 47(3), 501 - 4 {Aqueous petroleum-oxidizing Arthrobacter}; Koronelli TV et al.; Water petroleum oxidizing bacteria of Arthrobacter ceroformans as well as their lipid composition are described . On a medium containing hexadecane, all the strains produce wax in large amounts (upto 70% of total free lipids) consisting by 95% of cetyl palmitate . Fatty acids are represented mainly by palmitic acid but comprise also unsaturated C16:1 and C18:1 acids . Mycolic acids have not been detected . The significance of lipid composition for the identification of arthrobacteria is discussed. Mikrobiologiia, 1978 May-Jun, 47(3), 471 - 8 {Isolation, fractionation and comparative analysis of the cell membranes of the cyanobacterium, Anabaena variabilis}; Pinevich AV; A homogenate prepared from the protoplasts of Anabaena variabilis was fractionated by differential centrifugation and zonal electrophoresis . Four subcellular fractions were isolated and characterized with respect to their composition and morphology, two of them being of the membranous nature . Membrane visicles from the light, chlorophyll-containing fraction were identified as small fragments of thylakoids while the pigment-deficient, heavy membrane fraction seemed to be represented by fragments of the cytoplasmic membrane. Mikrobiologiia, 1978 May-Jun, 47(3), 467 - 70 {Base composition and DNA content in single-cell Cyanobacteria}; Efremova LP et al.; The base composition and DNA content were determined in 19 strains of cyanobacteria . The content of GC varied within the range of 33.6 to 70.7 mol%, and the content of DNA, from 1.05 X 10(-14) to 28.7 X 10(-14) g per cell . The latter parameter almost directly depended on the cell volume . The cultures were subdivided into six groups according to the results obtained. Mikrobiologiia, 1978 May-Jun, 47(3), 400 - 2 {Dependence of the rate of ferrous oxide oxidation by a Thiobacillus ferrooxidans culture on its concentration}; Kovrov BG et al.; The effect of the concentration of ferrous iron on the rate of its oxidation was studied with Thiobacillus ferrooxidans . The specific rate of oxidation of ferrous iron was found to increase with its concentration and to decrease with a rise of the total iron content . Cultivation of bacteria with electrochemical reduction of Fe3+ produced high cell concentrations at a low content of total iron (4--6 g/litre), e . g . upto 4.5 g/litre (dry biomass weight). Mikrobiologiia, 1978 May-Jun, 47(3), 389 - 92 {Autotrophic growth of Microcyclus aquaticus in hydrogen}; Namsaraev BB et al.; Microcyclus aquaticus Z-238 which had been isolated as a methanol oxidizing culture was found to be capable of growth in the atmosphere of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide in the presence of yeast extract . Autotrophic growth of the culture in the atmosphere of hydrogen required biotin or casaminic acids. J Histochem Cytochem, 1978 May, 26(5), 401 - 8 Retarded development of noenatal rat lung by maternal malnutrition; Curle DC et al.; Inadequate dietary intake during late pregnancy may have significant effects on the developing fetal lung which undergoes rapid cellular multiplication and differentiation shortly before birth . The morphology, glycogen distribution and acid phosphatase activity in normal and starved neonatal rats have been studied sequentially, by using histochemical and cytochemical methods . It has been shown that the normal pattern of lung growth and enzymatic development is retarded in neonates of malnourished mothers . A slowed rate of cellular division and differentiation in the critical prenatal period resulted in a more immature air-blood barrier at birth, with glycogen retention by some epithelial cells . Delayed Type 2 cell maturation with diminished acid phosphatase activity suggests a decrease in surfactant production in the malnourished newborn . In addition, fewer alveolar macrophages with reduced acid phosphatase activity were observed in the perinatal period of starved rats; this finding might have implications for the handling of inhaled bacteria shortly after birth . These results indicate that nutritional status of the mother has a marked effect on fetal lung growth and development by inhibiting cellular proliferation, differentiation and enzyme development by epithelial and macrophagic cells. Endoscopy, 1978 May, 10(2), 80 - 5 Experiences and problems in the disinfection of fibre endoscopes; Lindstaedt H et al.; The problem of the disinfection of fibre endoscopes is to achieve a good efficiency together with easy handling . There is not yet a disinfectant which shows a sufficient germicidal effect after a short time of contact with the fibre endoscope and which is harmless to the patient and medical staff . This paper deals with a two-stage disinfecting procedure in which the instrument undergoes a short intermediate disinfection using polyvidoneiodine (Betaisodona) between two investigations and a main disinfection at the end of a series of investigations using glutardialdehyde (Cidex) . The measures lead to a sufficient reduction of the number of germs . The importance of the disinfection of all parts of the endoscopes, especially the channels and the accessories (water bottles etc.) is pointed out. Am J Clin Pathol, 1978 May, 69(5), 486 - 93 The nature of the receptor for complement (C3b) in the human renal glomerulus; Carlo JR et al.; The physicochemical nature of the human glomerular complement receptor was studied . Receptor activity was measured by determining the avidity of glomeruli of normal human renal tissue for fluorescein-labeled bacteria (S.typhi) coated with C3b . Maximal binding of C3b-coated bacteria to normal human glomeruli took place in phosphate-saline buffers of pH 6.5 and 0.08 to 0.15 mu ionic strength . Pretreatment of renal tissue with neuraminidase enhanced receptor activity . On the other hand, binding of C3b-coated bacteria to the glomeruli was diminished by pretreatment of the tissue with proteolytic enzymes, phospholipase C and certain lipid solvents . The binding of C3b-coated bacteria to the glomeruli was also diminished by pretreatment of the tissue with fluid-phase C3b, or by pretreatment of the bacteria with C3b inactivator . Normal human serum and purified fluid-phase C3 or the absence of magnesium and calcium ions had little effect on glomerular complement receptor activity. Br J Surg, 1978 May, 65(5), 326 - 9 Parietal wound drainage in abdominal surgery; Higson RH et al.; A prospective randomized study of wound drainage in 250 surgical abdominal wounds was undertaken to determine (a) what effect wound drains had on clean surgical wounds; (b) whether wound drains reduced infection in potentially contaminated wounds; (c) whether wound drainage was an acceptable alternative to the use of topical antibiotics in frankly contaminated wounds . Ten per cent of clean wounds which had been drained became infected, compared with 2 per cent of control wounds in the same group (P less than 0.002) . Infection was also more common in potentially and frankly contaminated wounds in the presence of a drain . Skin organisms were grown from 8 drained and 2 nondrained wounds in this group (P less than 0.005), suggesting contamination by the drains . Drains were, however, associated with a lower infection rate in 23 obese patients with frankly contaminated wounds. Medicine (Baltimore), 1978 May, 57(3), 239 - 52 Synovial membrane histopathology in the differential diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, gout, pseudogout, systemic lupus erythematosus, infectious arthritis and degenerative joint disease; Goldenberg DL et al.; The synovial membrane histologic sections from patients with six common rheumatic diseases were reviewed without knowledge of the clinical diagnosis . After histopathologic evaluation, the synovial membrane characteristics were grouped according to the patient's clinical diagnosis, and included 29 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 13 with systemic lupus erythematosus, 17 with degenerative joint disease, 10 with acute bacterial arthritis, 8 with gout, and 13 with pseudogout . The only specific characteristics identified were bacteria (infectious arthritis), crystals (gout, pseudogout), and lymphoid follicles (rheumatoid arthritis) . Nevertheless, other characteristic features of differential diagnostic utility were recognized, including the intensity and nature of synovial lining cell hyperplasia and of leukocyte infiltration . Light microscopic histopathologic changes in the common rheumatic diseases are not specific, but are of diagnostic utility . Complete and exhaustive review of each pathologic synovial membrane characteristic provides more justification for the routine use of synovial membrane biopsy as an adjunct to arthrocentesis in the evaluation of common rheumatic diseases. Eur J Biochem, 1978 May, 86(1), 219 - 24 Oxidation of sulfhydryl groups in lactate dehydrogenase under high hydrostatic pressure; Schmid G et al.; Lactate dehydrogenase from rabbit skeletal muscle in the presence of substrate exhibits irreversible deactivation at hydrostatic pressures beyond 1 kbar {Schmid, G., Ludemann, H.-D . & Jaenicke, R . (1975) Biophys . Chem . 3, 90-98} . In the absence of substrate and coenzyme the lability towards pressure is enhanced . The pH dependence of the effect and its inhibition by SH-protecting agents suggest the oxidation of sulfhydryl groups to be involved in the mechanism of deactivation . Partial deactivation observed at pH 5.5-7.0 becomes complete in the range of the intrinsic pK of cysteine; addition of dithiothreitol and/or EDTA protects the enzyme from complete deactivation, and leads to the residual enzymatic activity observed at pH 7.0 . Incubation of the enzyme with dithiothreitol after pressure deactivation at pH 8.5 causes partial reactivation . From pressure-dependent measurements of the kinetics of deactivation an activation volume of deltaVnot equal to = -285 +/- 30 cm3 . mol-1 is calculated, which exceeds numerical data reported for typical reactions in organic chemistry . Therefore, the assumption can be made that the oxidation of sulfhydryl groups is connected with structural changes in the enzyme in the rate-determining step of the deactivation . The proposed mechanism may contribute to the toxicity of oxygen towards bacteria under high hydrostatic pressure. J Gen Microbiol, 1978 May, 106(1), 81 - 91 Demonstration by light and electron microscopy of capsules on gonococci recently grown in vivo; Demarco de Hormaeche R et al.; A study by light microscopy, using Leishman's stain alone or Leishman's stain followed by nigrosin, showed the presence of capsules on gonococci of two strains subcultured from subcutaneous chambers in guinea pigs . With the Alcian blue method of preparation for electron microscopy, gonococci of both strains recently grown in vivo showed densely stained capsules on some cells, while others in the same preparation showed only irregular masses of dense material on their surfaces with strands connecting adjacent bacteria . Treatment with antiserum, complement and conglutinin revealed irregular masses and strands of extracellular material with fixatives that did not contain Alcian blue. Arch Surg, 1978 May, 113(5), 561 - 4 Endotoxin-challenged monkeys and rats; Erve PR et al.; Studies in our laboratory with both the monkey and the rat showed that, after three hours of endotoxemia, there was a significant decrease in the number of circulating platelets, total hemolytic complement (CH 50 units), and blood serotonin (5-HT) levels . Administration of dexamethasone sodium phosphate in the clinical dose range at the time of endotoxin challenge significantly attenuated the decrease in blood 5-HT levels when compared to the untreated groups in both the monkey and the rat experiments . In the monkey, CH 50 units remained at a higher level when dexamethasone was administered; however, the difference between the treated and untreated groups was not statistically significant . The number of circulating white blood cells and platelets did not appear to be significantly altered by corticosteroid treatment . It is suggested that glucocorticoids may interfere with lipopolysaccharide-induced alterations in complement components or factors regulating hemostasis that influence platelet 5-HT release. J Dent Res, 1978 May-Jun, 57(5-6), 691 - 5 An in vitro investigation of the penetrating efficacy of BIS-GMA resin pit and fissure coatings; Powell KR et al.; The frequency of complete penetration of two commercial BIS-GMA resin pit and fissure coating materials into wide and constricted fissures was assessed from photomicrographs . It was found that 334 of the 390 wide fissures examined were completely filled by the coating materials . However, in contrast, only 28 of the 650 constricted fissures examined were completely filled by these resins. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 May, (5), 16 - 20 {Differential characteristics of the I and II phases and R-form of Sh . sonnei}; Nastichkin IA et al.; Characteristics of various phases of Sh . sonnei were determined on the standard strains of Sh . sonnei of phases I and II and R-form used for the industrial production of agglutinating monoreceptor sera . Bacteria of phase I displayed a distinct morphological, cultural and serological differences . For the differentiation of Sh . sonnei of the II phase and R-form, representing the greatest difficulty in this respect, it is recommended to use phages RFfm and 6-SR, and also indirect immunofluorescence method with the application of agglutinating monophasic serum against the II phase of Sh . sonnei . In addition, a study was made of over 20 various Sh . sonnei strains at different dissociative process phases . Verification data completely confirmed the specificity of phages RFfm and 6-SR for Sh . sonnei in the II phase . The efficacy of the immunofluorescence method was confirmed on 6 strains. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 May, 35(5), 976 - 7 Rapid sampling culture chamber; Carey AE et al.; An all-glass chamber for culturing anaerobic and aerobic bacteria in liquid medium is described . The system permits both rapid sampling and turbidimetric measurements under controlled atmospheric conditions. Acta Cytol, 1978 May-Jun, 22(3), 146 - 9 Cytologic changes associated with vaginal pessary use . With special reference to the presence of Actinomyces; Christ ML et al.; The cytopathology of Papanicolaou smears from 23 postmenopausal women with vaginal pessaries is described . The following alterations, when seen in the smear of an elderly postmenopausal woman, were found to be strongly suggestive of pessary use: cytologic atypia in the form of severe inflammatory changes in squamous cells, atypical metaplasia, and reparative changes with a background pattern of acute inflammation and prominent superficial maturation of the squamous cells . A notable additional finding in 13 of the 23 patients was the presence of filamentous organisms resembling Actinomyces and morphologically similar to organisms recently described and specifically identified as Actinomyces in patients with intrauterine devices. Scand J Dent Res, 1978 May, 86(3), 182 - 92 Ultrastructure of salivary calculi; Anneroth G et al.; Twenty-one submandibular salivary calculi from 19 patients were examined with the light and electron microscope . Adjacent to the peripheral parts of the calculi metaplastic squamous epithelium or connective tissue was seen in close contact to the mineralized matrix . Disintegrated cellular substances from these tissue components were in some cases found to condense in a peripherally located zone of the salivary calculi . The morphology of the examined salivary calculi varied extensively not only within each calculus but also from one calculus to another . High and low incidence of crystals gave rise to the lamellated pattern . In some cases the crystals were so abundant as to five a dense homogeneous appearance . In the central parts of the calculi spheroid bodies of very low electron density with a size ranging from 1 to 100micrometer were found in an amorphous matrix . The origin of these structures is discussed . In the peripheral parts of some calculi osmiophilic spherical bodies with an electron microscopical appearance similar to lipid granules as well as bacteria of cocci or coliform type were found . Degenerated bacteria might in some cases contribute in forming part of the peripheral organic matrix. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig B}, 1978 May, 166(4-5), 434 - 42 {Antiviral activity of tyrothricin against Sendai virus in suspension tests (author's transl)}; Grossgebauer K et al.; In suspension tests it could be found, that tyrothricin, isolated from bacteria, possesses an anti-infectious activity against Sendai virus . Concentrations of 10(2) to 10(3) ID50-units of Sendai virus were incubated with 0.5 and/or 1.0 mg tyrothricin per 5 ml for 30 minutes at 37 degrees C (pH 7.5) . These mixtures were tested in embryonated eggs and showed a marked decrease of viral infectivity . Tween 80 added after the incubation period leads to an incomplete reactivation of the virus infectivity . According to these results and further preliminary studies on herpes simplex virus we suppose a virustatic effect of tyrothricin also in the case of other lipophilic viruses. Endoscopy, 1978 May, 10(2), 71 - 4 Gas sterilization of fiber endoscopes; Ujeyl AK et al.; Excitants of disease can be transmitted by endoscopes from one patient to another . Owing to their complicated construction and the heat-sensitive material fiber glass endoscopes are difficult to disinfect or sterilize . Of the known procedures of sterilization only gas sterilization with ethylene oxide can be used . Clinical examinations and laboratory experiments demonstrate the reliable efficacy of this procedure of sterilization of fiber glass endoscopes . On account of known risks the indications for gas sterilization are compiled. Endoscopy, 1978 May, 10(2), 98 - 103 Synopsis of endoscopic and related morphological findings in Whipple's disease; Riemann JF et al.; Whipple's disease is characterized by typical endoscopic lesions in the duodenal wall . They consist of a thickened and inflamed mucosa with yellowish-white spots, in part solitary, in part confluent . Petechial hemorrhages mark the high mucosal vulnerability . Clumsy and dilated villi with ectatic lymph vessels and PAS-positive macrophages are the corresponding histologic feature . In the ultrastructure numerous rod-shaped micro-organisms are evident . Following treatment with tetracycline the mucosal surface normalizes rapidly, the bacteria disappear,